Puerto Rico - Island of Enchantment

Puerto Rico is the Island of Enchantment (la Isla del Encanto). It is a beautiful tropical paradise located on the border of North America and the Caribbean. The country includes the main island as well as many smaller islands and keys. There are scenic mountains, beaches, historic towns, and more than fifty rivers. About five million tourists visit the island each year.

The history of the area is not well known. The Taino Indian culture was dominant there until the famous Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. Tainos called the island "Borinquen" but Columbus named it San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Later the islands changed the official name to Puerto Rico and the capital was named San Juan. Then in 1508, Spain colonized the area and Juan Ponce de Leon became the first governor.

A lot of natives died from harsh work conditions and the diseases brought from Europe. But many people also arrived from other countries to live there. The islands became an important port. Many forts such as El Castillo San Felipe del Morro and El Castillo de San Cristobal were built to protect them. Some other European countries made many attempts to capture them but failed.

After many Central and South American countries gained independence, Puerto Rico and Cuba were the only two Spanish colonies remaining in the Americas.

During the Spanish-American War, the area was invaded by the U.S.
At the end, Spain gave up the islands along with Cuba, the Philippines,
and Guam. The area was put under control of the United States. In
1947, the U.S. granted people the right to elect their own governor.
The people born in the islands are U.S. citizens. Residents pay some federal taxes and may enlist in the U.S. military. Many soldiers have participated in all U.S. wars since 1898, including the current Middle Eastern conflicts.

The economy was originally based on agriculture and the main cash crop was sugar. That has all changed and things have improved due to more investment in industry. There has also been a lot of migration to the United States, and especially to New York City. The government estimates that more people of Puerto Rican ancestry live in the U.S. than in the islands. Spanish is still the primary language, but it is a little different due to the influences from other languages and their close relationship with the United States.

Baseball was one of the first sports to gain popularity. Some famous baseball players include Roberto Clemente and Orlando Cepeda in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Puerto Rico Islanders Football Club plays in the United States Soccer League. They are a member of FIFA and CONCACAF.

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